Page 52 of Cowboy's Last Stand
Instead of arguing with her, Wade moved on.“I told Billy I’d arrest him if he went anywhere near you.The Night Owl is off-limits too.You probably don’t have to worry about him coming to the library.Reading isn’t his strong suit.”
She smiled wanly.“Will he listen to you?”
“If he doesn’t, he’ll be sorry.I want you to call me if you see Billy or Gabe in your neighborhood or if anything out of the ordinary happens.”
She weighed this advice.“Gabe wouldn’t hurt me or Marcus.”
“He’d hurt your mailbox.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s hard to be sure without evidence.I can ask your neighbors if they have video.Lots of people do these days.”
Natalie twisted her hands in her lap.“If he did it, I don’t want to know.”
Wade squinted into the distance.“You should set up a door camera for extra security.I can do it for you.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Speaking of home security, let’s talk about the stranger you’ve invited to live with you.”
“Let’s not.”
“Natalie, come on.You’re too kind and trusting for your own good.You think Gabe Luna needs a hug instead of jail time.”
She stiffened at the criticism.“You should worry about your brother.If anyone belongs in jail, it’s him.”
Wade fell silent for a moment.He seemed ashamed of the family he’d been born into.His father and brother were bad people.She wondered why he’d stayed in Last Chance instead of moving away to join another police force.His mouth twisted as he considered his next words.“Why didn’t you call?After that night?”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I thought you needed space.”
“I did.”
“Less than I figured, apparently.”
“It was a mistake.We both know that.”
“No, we don’t.”
She gaped at him in shock.He’d fled her bedroom like it was on fire.“You couldn’t get out fast enough.”
“I didn’t leave because I regretted it,” he said in an even tone.“I left because you were still grieving Mike.”
Heat rose to her cheeks.
“It’s not a big deal,” he said, referring to her slip of the tongue.“I don’t blame you for missing him or for needing more time.I wanted to be patient and let you come to me.I thought we could try again when you were ready.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“I can see that I should have communicated this to you.”
“I had no idea.”
He stared at her in taut silence.
She realized that Wade Hendricks had been waiting for her, and she’d never had a clue.“You brought a date last night.”
